Climate projections across the Midwest point to warmer winters, earlier springs and warmer summers. This fosters conditions suitable for higher precipitation, which leads to a greater risk of vector-borne diseases. Examples include mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and tick-carried diseases such as Lyme disease.
Heat waves featuring high temperatures, high humidity and stagnant air masses could become more common and may lead to increased levels of heat-related illness.
Predicted increased precipitation and flooding from such events can also lead to runoff from sewage and septic systems potentially increasing the risk of water-borne diseases and, in some cases, harmful algal blooms in our most precious Great Lakes.
Have a seasonal allergy action plan and think preventative. When you use medications early, you may ease your symptoms all spring. Finding the right combination of treatment might take a bit of trial and error:
Antihistamines can help if you’re sneezing, have a runny nose, or your nose and eyes are itchy.
Decongestants can come to the rescue when you’re all stuffed up because they shrink the lining of the passages in your nose. You can try a nasal spray or a pill format, but be aware of potential rebound effect with long-term use, as they are best used for periodic relief.
Nasal corticosteroid sprayed into your nose, can give you relief from stuffiness and sneezing. These are very effective when used regularly, but they may take a few days or weeks to kick in.
Always consult with your primary care physician if you take other routine medications to avoid potentially problematic interactions.
Unfortunately, the answer is yes. An earlier and longer growing season for trees and plants will increase pollen levels, which in turn could significantly exacerbate allergies, asthma and other chronic respiratory illness. Our March warmth started the blooming and pollination process much earlier than normal. If you are miserable and feeling the effects and symptoms of seasonal allergies, you’re not alone. Tree pollen, mostly from Cottonwood, Maple and Juniper trees are causing the most grief right now.
Modern day aviation gets a bad rap when it comes to illnesses associated with commercial flight. The truth is, the air in airplane cabins is actually filtered very well every 3 to 5 minutes with HEPA filters. The primary reason you may get ill is because you are flying in close quarters with a crowd of people, and several of them likely have an infection like the common cold or flu. Germs spread through the air before it gets circulated, resulting in exposure. In reality, the nozzles blowing air above your seat may actually mitigate the effects of germs from those around you who may be coughing or sneezing.
Breaking away from your typical routine of exercise and fitness can certainly be interrupted by a great vacation. Keep in mind that schedule changes, alcohol consumption and dietary changes contribute to falling off your typical routine.
However, if you get a little bit creative you can find some ways to burn off those extra calories and maintain aerobic fitness. Take stairs instead of elevators, do simple things like push-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups to help keep your muscles toned. Take your extra leisure time to go on a long walk or find a new and exciting place to go for a run. You’ll definitely feel better about yourself and your overall fitness when you return home and get back to the daily grind!
For your health and safety, it is critical to clean your grill grates before you start cooking. The concern with wire brush cleaning tools is that the wire bristles can snap off, land in the grates and ultimately find their way into your food. There are hundreds of emergency department visits annually related to ingested wire bristles.
The good news is that there are many safer and just as effective alternatives to a wire brush. Consider using a grill cleaning stone or brick, a bristle free metal brush made of metal coil or even a nylon bristle brush. These are all safer alternatives. If you do want to stick with a wire brush, make sure that it is in good condition and always wipe down the grates or grill surface with a wet paper towel after using the wire brush.
There is nothing better than the aroma and taste of summer grilling! Unfortunately, there is now ample research indicating that cooking meats at high temperature with flames that cause excessive charring increases the presence of HCA’s and PHA’s which are the chemicals known to increase the risk of cancer. As with so many other things in our lives, moderation is the key.
Marinating meats for at least 30 minutes prior to grilling provides a protective mechanism that prevents these chemicals from developing. Cut back on grill time, reduce the heat being used and avoid direct flame to the foods being cooked. Before cooking, clean your grill thoroughly to remove carcinogenic residue that builds up over time. Processed meats such as hot dogs and sausages also have an increased risk associated with these potential carcinogens.
Consider swapping grilled meats for grilled vegetables and fruits, which do not carry the same risk. This will allow you to enjoy that Bar-B-Q charred taste because the previously mentioned chemicals develop only in muscle proteins.
We always suggest you check with your primary care physician to help navigate and obtain the most appropriate care for any health condition. Some primary care of fices are comfortable taking care of minor fractures, some are not. A certi fied urgent care facility can competently take care of fractures, providing initial x-rays, diagnosis, and casting. At Lakes Urgent Care, we provide all of these services and also work closely with several orthopedic specialists to provide excellent continuity of care for more complex fractures.
If you have injured a joint and are not experiencing severe pain or marked limitation of motion, you may consider applying the basics of “RICE” (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) for a period of 24-48 hours. If pain remains persistent beyond a few days or prevents you from near normal mobility in a joint, especially the ankle or foot with weight bearing, it is best to have the injury evaluated by your primary care physician or a certi fied urgent care.
A painful extremity can be very misleading! Generally, without obtaining an x-ray of the area, it will not be possible to ascertain if the pain is due to a strain or fracture (break). The old advice of “if I can move it, it’s not broken,” generally is false. Quite often we discover a fracture even though someone can move a painful finger, wrist, foot or ankle.
